Drones trialled in fighting bushfires

They have been used to lock on to strategic targets in theatres of war, and now military-style drones could find a new role in targeting bushfires in NSW.

The Rural Fire Service is carrying out trials this fire season with “spy in the sky” unmanned aircraft and drones to evaluate their use to monitor fires for extended periods and to provide early data in the first minutes of arriving on the fire ground.

One test is to likely to take placed in the Wollemi National Park near Singleton, should a major fire operation arise. It will use the Scan Eagle Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), which can send back both thermal and visual image data and is capable of staying airborne for some 20 hours.